Faints and funny turns

Many children have episodes that look like seizures but are not epilepsy. The most common is a simple faint. Understanding exactly what happened helps us reach the right diagnosis and avoid unnecessary tests and treatment.

Common causes of funny turns

• Simple faints (vasovagal syncope)
• Breath-holding spells in toddlers, and reflex anoxic seizures
• Daydreaming and staring spells
• Sleep-related events, such as night terrors
• Tics and other movement episodes
• Migraine-related episodes
• Rarely, heart rhythm problems

Simple faints

• Often triggered by standing for a long time, heat, hunger, pain, the sight of blood or a sudden fright
• Beforehand the child may feel light-headed, hot or sick, look pale, or have blurred vision or muffled hearing
• They fall, and may jerk briefly for a few seconds, which can look like a seizure
• They usually come round within a minute or two, although they may feel tired afterwards

Breath-holding spells

• Common between 6 months and 5 years of age
• After crying, upset or a minor bump, the child holds their breath, turns blue or pale and may briefly lose consciousness
• They are frightening to watch but not harmful, and children grow out of them
• They are sometimes linked to low iron, so a blood test may be suggested

How we tell them apart from seizures

• A careful description of what happened before, during and after the episode
• A video, if it is safe to film, is very helpful
• An ECG (heart tracing) for children who faint
• An EEG only if a seizure is suspected
• Blood tests, such as iron levels, where appropriate

What to do during a faint

• Lie your child down and raise their legs
• Loosen tight clothing and let in fresh air
• When they come round, sit them up slowly and offer a drink and a snack
• Note what happened and how long it lasted

Preventing faints

• Drink plenty of water through the day
• Do not skip meals, especially breakfast
• At the first warning signs, sit or lie down straight away
• If standing for a long time, cross the legs and tense the leg muscles
• Avoid getting too hot

When to seek advice promptly

Please seek medical advice soon if an episode:

• Happens during exercise or swimming
• Is triggered by a loud noise, a fright or strong emotion
• Comes with chest pain or palpitations (a racing or irregular heartbeat)
• Lasts more than a few minutes, or recovery is slow
• Occurs in a child with a family history of sudden unexplained death at a young age or of heart rhythm problems

Episode diary

Fill in a line for each episode and bring this to your appointment.

Contact CPNI

Has your child had funny turns? Call our office on +357 22 476 627 to arrange an assessment, or email cpni2007@gmail.com. We see children through GeSY, and privately if they are not GeSY beneficiaries, in Nicosia and Limassol.

More leaflets and information: www.cpni.com.cy

This leaflet gives general information. It does not replace advice from your child's doctor.

Reviewed by Dr Paola Nicolaides, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, November 2026.